AD Khowaja-the man who changed the Sindh Police

Despite his differences with the PPP, former IGP managed to make significant improvements in the department

AD Khowaja being seen off by senior police officers at the Central Police Office. PHOTO: COURTESY CENTRAL POLICE OFFICE

KARACHI:
Despite the constant political and administrative pressures from the Pakistan Peoples Party- led government, the outgoing Sindh Inspector General of Police Allah Dino Khowaja has left an indelible mark on the department, while building up its operational and functional capabilities.

Since the day he took over, Khowaja set himself up for the task of depoliticising the department, which in turn earned him the ire of the political leadership of the PPP. Nevertheless, for the next two-and-a-half years, Khowaja undertook several measures to improve the department's performance and ensure the welfare of its officers.

These steps included the improvement of transport fleet vehicles, provision of new vehicles to all district police officers, arrangements for vehicle lifters, ambulances, water cannons, the establishment of the School of Investigation, doubling of financial allocations for investigations as well as the holistic improvement of all investigative aspects, provision of special mobiles for investigation and motorcycles for those involved in prosecution.

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Under his command, the department also launched recognition awards for officers of the counter-terrorism department, provided funds for the digitization and location devices for CTD and gave over Rs50 millions in awards to officers involved in terrorism-related cases and investigation breakthroughs in the Amjad Sabri case.


AD Khowaja initiated the makeover of all divisional headquarters and set up Police Facilitation Centres in all districts. Reporting rooms of police facilities were renovated, while staff salaries were doubled. Women protection desks were also set up in police stations.

The former IGP also expedited efforts to enhance hardware supplies at police facilities besides taking steps towards improving the handling and storage of crime records in police stations. He also launched Hotel Eye, PSRMS and HRMS software in police stations, prisons and jails.

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Numbers are also remarkable with respect to armament of the department, as 27,000 SMGs and 12 thousand pistols were added to the supply, along with an ample supply of bullet proof jackets and vests.

An overwhelming improvement was seen in the amounts allocated for martyred policemen. Welfare and benevolent packages given to bereaved families were raised to Rs10 million from the previous Rs2 million. The monthly 'widow fund' given to wives of police martyrs was also raised from Rs1,200 to Rs3,000, while provisions for free medical facilities were also ensured for all injured policemen. Scholarships were given to deserving children of serving policemen. An extra-ordinary surge of police force was seen as the department successfully recruited 27,000 personnel on the basis of merit. Police training centers and staff training colleges also saw drastic improvements in infrastructure and design as well as doubling of salaries while the department also ensured additional training for new recruits under the supervision of Pakistan Army.

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